The Washington critic., 1887-01-12


ment Is of peculiar interest and signid.
canoe, because of the politics with
which ii was more or less favored.
in the course of the discussion there
cropped out spirit Of 0ntngonism to
the bill under consideration on the
ground that IT, passage might rebound
TO the credit OF Democratic Admins.
tra,ion. The idea with certain mem
hers of the minority seemed to he that
as the Democrats In yelrs past had not
voted with the Republicans on measures
pertaining to the reconstruction Of the
naval service, there WAS no particular
reason why Republicans should now
vote with the Democrats In support of
similar legislation.
This narrow view Of the question
was strongly condemned however by
Mr. Buck of Connecticut and Mr..
Thomas Of Illinois, both Of whom ad-
vocated the bill with force aud ability,
thus showing a highly commendable
readiness to diycst themselves of all
partisan preiudiccsin In matter affecting
the general welfare Of the country.
There is no politics in this meas
ufe,' said Mr. Thomas ali this talk
about It's being q political scheme ap-
pears to mo to he without any founda-
tion whatever. 1t is a move in the
interest of an honest and intelligent
management of great department of
the Government; move in the interest
of economical and wise administration.
Now that the Democrats have
at last come to their senses and
propose to do right thing, shall we
stand here and object TO it? think
not"
at is said sometimes" remarked
Mr.. Buck, "that no vote is always
safe vote for man in the minority,
But tell you, gentlemen, the day will
come when no votes will be out of
fashion when they are not right
There is the ring of Independent
craftsmanship in language like that.
And when the day does come, to which
the gentleman from Connecticut refers,
it may not bring the millennium with
it. but it will facilitate the work of
Congress as nothing else can facilitate
ii, and remove one gyeat obstacle which
never should have stood In the way OF
general, non political legislation.
There are many measures Of public
utility which fail OF adoption simply
because of jealous apprehension that
their passage may acrue 10 the al.
vantage of one party or the other
even when It is impossible to make
them party issues before the people.
1t is encouraging, therefore, to fad
men breaking away from unnatural
restraints and making common cause
with their opponents in bchalf of OH
jects that possess a common value to
their constituents.
Let minoritios In Congress once
realize that ii Is more in the line Of
their duty to co operate Glth the oppo-
siiion in behalf Of wise and beneicent
legislation than 10 flibuster for its
defeat through merely partisan motives,
and the outlook will he much clearer
than it now is for useful Congressional
work, The question is not whether
the Administration will profit by this
or that measure, but whether the in
terest of the people at large require it.
\ BILL for the relief of William Nc.
Garrahan has been pending in Congress
for many years, and has been reported
upon favorably so often at one end OF
the Capitol or the other that there can
le no doubt as TO lis substantial merit
The bill is now on the House calendar
and as Mr.. Hill said yesterday, it has
been unanimously reported by a com
mitec Of the Senate, and with a single
exception by committee of the House
II simply submits 10 the Court oi
Claims for adjudication the title of Mr.
McGarrahan 10 certain tract Of land
in California. We cannot see why any
objection should be ipterposcd to an
carly consideration of this measure
Tie claimant is getting along in year:
aud justice should no longer be de
luyed. The American Congress should
not convert itself Into an Englisl
Chancery Court.
IN An elaborate and furcibd editorial
this morning upon the long and shorl
haul provisions OF the Interstate Com
meioc bill, the New York Times says
We do rot see loN lhis prohibition as I,
Il C short and long hsGl, fairly construed an
judlciuusly applied, ciu giur0 either the In
terests of the railroads. those Of pro lucer
and shippers, or those Of the business centre
aud ssaports oil th> country Tie outer
raised against It seems 20 have been parti!
tie result OF ignorance or misunderstanding
and Iartly The outcome Of an objection o
railroad managers 10 any regulation OF tn
liberty which they have 30 often abu7el Z
The injury Of the country ana even Of th
properties which thoy caa!ral.
Says the World.
Senator Cullom las shown couglusi5e
that there Is no 90 Justice involved IN the LON
aud short haul clause carefully guarded a
lis. As 10 pooling there IL no need for flr
iher discussion. The objection has bee
weighed In the balance aud found wanting
ENoINEER MENoCAL says 1t vii
take a thousand million dollars to flnisl
the Panama Canal, and that the TIE
huantepec ship railway is wild dream
that will never be realized. There ar
two distinguished engineers at leas
Who will not subscribe to these ey
tfeme opinions, yet Mr.. Menocal mn.
he right in his championship Of tn
Nicaragua route aS superior to al
others for an inter.oceanic transit